Following significant spikes in COVID-19 cases in the campus community and the ensuing negative press, Brigham Young University decided to publicly update their case count less frequently, switching from daily to weekly updates.

We are seeking a return to more frequent updates (at least daily) and increased transparency in general to keep all effected parties informed about the conditions on campus.

The COVID-19 virus spreads incredibly quickly, making up-to-date information critical for students who are seeking to make good choices about their presence on campus. Obscuring the relevant information and data that is available endangers students and faculty alike by keeping them in the dark about the prevalence of the cases, the rate at which the virus is spreading, and the occurrence of rapid spikes that may warn of an impending need to switch to online classes. Keeping the public from seeing this information gives students and professors little warning if campus must be shut down and operations moved fully online and makes it nigh impossible to make informed decisions that directly impact individual health and safety.

Additionally, being able to monitor the case count is one of the few ways that the campus community and broader public can hold BYU and its administration accountable for timely responses to changing conditions. By delaying publicizing the most current conditions, BYU is not only endangering the campus community but also eliminating an important check to prevent dangerous inaction. The data is already there. What purpose does it serve not to share it?